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🇨🇺 Itinerary · Cuba · 7 days

1-week Cuba itinerary 2026: Havana, Viñales and Trinidad

7 well-paced days: Havana, the Viñales valley and colonial Trinidad. The essential format for a first time, with detailed budget and transport.

🔄 Updated June 1, 2026

📅 See the program 🔄 See variants

In brief

Duration

7 days

Stops

3 places

Average budget

€1,100-1,700

Total distance

~700 km

Profile

First time

Season

Nov-Apr

Havana 3d · Viñales 1d · Trinidad 2d

Itinerary map

The route at a glance

Cuba 1-week itinerary map: Havana, Viñales, Trinidad

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Detailed program

7 days, day by day

1

~€75/pers

Havana · Arrival and first contact

  • Afternoon Arrival at José Martí airport. Taxi to the old town (25 min, €25).
  • Late afternoon First walk on the Malecón facing the sea, then Plaza Vieja.
  • Evening Dinner at a paladar (private restaurant) in Habana Vieja, first mojito.
🛌 🛌 Habana Vieja · e.g. casa particular on Calle Obrapía (3 nights)·🚖 Taxi from the airport·Cuba guide →
2

~€45

Havana · UNESCO old town

  • 9am Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza de Armas and the Capitolio at opening, before the heat.
  • 1pm Lunch at La Bodeguita del Medio or a nearby paladar.
  • 3pm Museum of the Revolution then a walk through working-class Centro Habana.
  • 7pm Ride in a convertible American car at sunset (€30).
3

~€50

Havana · Vedado, art and music

  • 10am Scout the Fabrica de Arte Cubano (FAC), Colón cemetery, the university.
  • 2pm Vedado district, Hotel Nacional and its history, coffee on the terrace.
  • 9pm Live salsa night at the Casa de la Música or a concert at the FAC.
4

~€60

Havana → Viñales · Tobacco valley

  • 8am Viazul bus or colectivo to Viñales (2h30, €16 by bus, ~€20 by colectivo).
  • 12pm Check-in in Viñales. Creole lunch with locals.
  • 3pm Horseback or walking tour of the valley: tobacco plantations, drying barns, mogotes.
  • 7pm Sunset from a viewpoint, dinner on a village terrace.
🛌 🛌 Viñales · e.g. casa particular facing the mogotes (1 night)·🚌 Viazul bus or colectivo
5

~€70

Viñales → Trinidad · Long drive south

  • 7am Direct colectivo Viñales → Trinidad (about 6h, ~€45, through the countryside).
  • 2pm Arrival in Trinidad. Check-in then a first loop of the main square.
  • 6pm Plaza Mayor at sunset, steps of the Casa de la Música.
🛌 🛌 Trinidad historic center · e.g. colonial casa particular (2 nights)·🚖 Colectivo (shared taxi)
6

~€55

Trinidad · Colonial town and beach

  • 9am Cobbled lanes, the romantic museum, view from the San Francisco convent bell tower.
  • 1pm Taxi to Playa Ancón (15 min, Caribbean beach), swim and lunch.
  • 9pm Open-air salsa on the Casa de la Música steps.
7

Flight

Trinidad → Havana → return

  • Morning Craft shopping, a last Cuban coffee on the square.
  • Afternoon Viazul bus Trinidad → Havana (5h30, €26) then airport transfer, or return flight.

How much

Itinerary budget (per person, flight included)

Backpacker

€1,100

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €750
  • 🏠 Casa particular: €25/night
  • 🍽️ Simple paladars: €12/day
  • 🚌 Viazul + colectivos: €90
  • 🎫 Activities: €80
Recommended

Comfort

€1,500

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €800
  • 🏠 Charming casa: €45/night
  • 🍽️ Known paladars: €25/day
  • 🚖 Private colectivos: €150
  • 🎫 Activities + American car: €150

Premium

€2,800

per person

  • ✈️ Business flight: €1,600
  • 🏨 5★ hotel Havana: €180/night
  • 🍽️ Upscale restaurants: €50/day
  • 🚖 Private air-conditioned driver
  • 🎫 Private guide + excursions: €300

Shorter, longer

Other possible durations

You're here

1 week

1 week

Havana, Viñales and Trinidad. The essential format.

2 weeks

2 weeks

Add Cienfuegos, Santa Clara and the south coast.

1 month

1 month

The grand tour, from Havana to Santiago and Baracoa in the east.

How to get around

Itinerary logistics

This itinerary combines 1 Viazul bus, 1 or 2 colectivos and city taxis. Count ~€150 of transport over 7 days. Book your Viazul bus the day before and confirm fuel availability.

🚌

Viazul bus Havana → Viñales

€16 · 2h30 · air-conditioned · book the day before

🚖

Colectivo Viñales → Trinidad

~€45 · 6h · shared taxi · leaves when full

🚌

Viazul bus Trinidad → Havana

€26 · 5h30 · the most reliable for the return

🚗

American car Havana

€30 · 1h convertible tour at sunset

🚕

City taxis

€5 to €10/ride · agree the price before getting in

Adapt by season

Dry season versus rainy season

This itinerary works year-round, but November to April is far more comfortable: clear skies, 26 to 30°C, little rain. From June to October, late-afternoon showers are frequent and the hurricane season peaks in September-October. If you travel in summer, plan visits in the morning and keep your bus trips flexible, since fuel shortages can delay a departure.

Author tips

What I would redo (and change)

✅ Would redo

  • • In January 2025 I took the 7am colectivo Viñales → Trinidad: 6h on the road but gorgeous countryside and a coffee stop in Cienfuegos. Would do it again rather than backtrack through Havana.
  • • Stay in a casa particular from the very first night: hosts point you to the best paladars and arrange the colectivos.
  • • The American car ride at sunset on day one, to ease into the time difference.
  • • Book the Viazul bus the day before in person at the station: seats sell out fast in high season.
  • • Keep euros and dollars in cash: foreign cards barely work.

⚠️ Would change

  • • Add 1 night in Trinidad to enjoy Playa Ancón without rushing.
  • • Skip the return bus if budget allows: a domestic flight saves half a day.
  • • Don't over-plan: flexibility matters, Cuban transport often slips an hour or two.

FAQ

Itinerary FAQ

Do you need a visa for Cuba? +
Yes, a tourist card (tarjeta del turista) is required, valid 30 days, bought from the consulate, an agency or the airline (about €22 to €35). Your passport must be valid 6 months after return.
Can you pay by card in Cuba? +
Barely. Cards issued by US banks don't work, and others rarely go through. Bring euros or dollars in cash to exchange locally. Plan your full budget in advance.
Is the Viazul bus reliable? +
Broadly yes on main routes, but in 2026 fuel shortages can delay or cancel a departure. Book the day before, confirm the same morning and keep a colectivo as plan B.
Is one week enough to discover Cuba? +
For a first time, yes: Havana, Viñales and Trinidad give an excellent overview of the island. To add Cienfuegos, Santa Clara or the east (Santiago, Baracoa), you need at least 2 weeks.
What's the best period for this itinerary? +
November to April, in the dry season, with clear skies and 26 to 30°C. Avoid September-October, the peak of hurricane season, when rain and storm risk are highest.
Should you book the casas particulares in advance? +
In Havana and Trinidad during high season, yes, at least the first 2 nights. Elsewhere, hosts often book the next stop's casa for you, which simplifies the logistics.

Marie Laurent ✓

·

Southeast Asia specialist · itinerary personally tested.

Last updated: June 1, 2026.

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